Hourglass Ambient Lighting Blush Palette, my review

Aaah, Hourglass powders and blushes… If you’re like me, obsessed by beauty blogs or YouTube videos, you probably know what I’m talking about. Otherwise, stay with me, I’ll introduce you to Hourglass and more specifically to the last product launched: the Ambient Lighting Blush Palette!

Hourglass is an American brand that only exists since 2004. Carisa Jones, the founder, has succeeded with her brand in the United States and in the UK  especially thanks to its gorgeous products for the complexion.
She created a whole range of luminous setting powders, able to set the complexion makeup but with the most beautiful glow. These powders are a kind of hybrid between highlighters and regular setting powders for the face.

Our dear Carissa was inspired by her mother’s apartment, lit only with pink bulbs. This pink light is the most flattering for the complexion, a good trick! wink
These Ambient Lighting Powders bring a very soft glow to the face. They are available in 7 different shades, and each is supposed to recreate a different light. Basically, these powders are like a photo studio in a box.

So for example, there is:

– Diffused Light, a light yellow semi-matte powder that mimics the soft morning sun. It’s perfect for removing redness (this is my favorite powder when I have ugly red zits to hide)
– Dim Light, a semi-matte beige/peachy powder that blurs the imperfections (pores, wrinkles and whatsoever) (my favorite finishing powder after a short night)(so, like every morning)
– Luminous Light, a slightly iridescent champagne/beige powder which for me is more like an highlighter, but without the glittery effect you get with some products
– Mood Light, a pink powder, inspired by the famous pink bulbs, which gives a very soft glow to the face (I don’t have this one)(yet)(why ???)
– or Incandescent Light, an opalescent and sparkling powder, which I mostly use as an highlighter. It is wonderful to create the perfect J-Lo glow!

At the end of 2013, Hourglass launched blushes in the same range, the Ambient Lighting Blushes. Indeed, they are marbleized and “mixed” with the famous Ambient Lighting Powders, so of course they added color to the cheeks, but also luminosity (thanks to the powders). And all that without the usual glitter often found in the regular iridescent blushes. This “soft-focus” effect is possiblme thanks to spherical particles that can refract light while diffusing it. This kind of innovative technique can be found in some very luxury products for the complexion (remember, I had spoken about it in my Diorskin Star review).

I discovered my passion for blushes very late. Until recently, I used very sheer and dull colors for my cheeks, because I was afraid to look like a can of paint if I was wearing brighter colours.
Hourglass blushes have become my favorites (along with those from NARS or Tarte) (oh la la, Tarte blushes, I will definitely do a blog post about them, they’re so great) because they are very subtle and so very luminous. They refresh your face immediately without giving the impression that you’re wearing some war paints. (remember the 80s blushes)
And I’m not the only one to rave about them. I think that all American and English beauty bloggers are obsessed. But it’s not really surprising, they’re amazing products.

Hourglass Ambient Lighting Blush Palette:

For this year Christmas holidays, Hourglass has released a limited edition of these famous blush in a palette. The brand had already done this last year for its famous powders, which is how I discovered them!

In this blush palette, there are 2 colours that already exist in the brand’s permanent collection and 1 which is exclusive to the palette:

– Luminous Flush: a pink/coral champagne, very soft (the left one in the palette). It’s beautiful on a light to medium skin. This is marbleized  with the Luminous Light powder.
– Mood Exposure: a pink  beigy plum (yes, I know, this color description is a bit weird). This colour is perfect for Fall, in my opinion. It fits perfectly with my dark berry lips and my brown eye makeup. This blush is mixed with Mood Light, the famous pink powder I mentioned above. 
– Incandescent Electra: this blush is exclusive to the palette. This is a kind of Barbie pink, a very light peachy pink, and this one is quite shimmery as it’s mixed with the Incandescent Light powder, a sparkling powder which is only in the Ambient Lighting Palette.

You can wear these colours separately, but it’s also possible to mix them together. The shades are quite close, so why not?

The pigmentation is pretty good even though the colors are quite light. I think these kind of shades are more suitable for light to medium skin. On a darker skin, I’m afraid the colours won’t have a good pay-off.

The palette packaging with 3 different blushes is super convenient because it allows you to try 3 different colours for a better price. (yes, I know, $58 is not exactly cheap)
Every Hourglass blush sold separately is sold $35 alone, and the size of the mono blushes is slightly larger.

The packaging of the palette is made in plastic, but it has a very chic metallic coating, in rose gold (obviously). And these marbleized blushes are to dye for, aren’t they? Yes, I saw you staring at them, don’t deny it! (I totally did) wink

In the photo above, you can see the small difference in size of the palette with the blushes. (On the left is the color Dim Infusion and on the right, it’s Diffused Heat)(my two favorite blushes for spring and summer)

Regarding the formula, the brand is quite strict about the ingredients they use and all powders and blushes are talc-free, paraben-free, without nanoparticles and fragrance-free.

About the application, like the other powders of the brand, these blushes are quite powdery when you take them, but not on the skin. The blush applied with a brush is very smooth, not patchy at all and it’s very easy to blend.

The lasting power is excellent, the 3 blushes lasts more than six hours on my cheeks. (knowing that I have oily skin, it’s quite an achievement) (a regular blush lasts usually two hours on me)

Finally, here are the swatches:

And on me:

I’m wearing the shade Mood Exposure (the right one in the palette).

So in summary:

[wprs-pros][wprs-cons]

The Ambient Lighting Blush Palette is available online on the Hourglass website for $58 ( or on Space NK and Net-A-Porter).

And you, have you already tried any Hourglass products? Tempted by this beautiful Ambient Lighting Blush Palette?

Photos credits: bonnie-garner.com

Cet article est aussi disponible en français: Hourglass Ambient Lighting Blush Palette, mon avis